and bill russell one of the most beloved sports figures in boston called the city a flea market of racism in his memoir it had all varieties old and new and in their most virulent form the city had corrupt city hallcrony racists brickthrowing sendembacktoafrica racists and in the university areas phony radicalchic racists other than that i liked the city cc sabathia claims that he hasnt been called a nigger playing baseball anywhere but at fenway park gary sheffield and dave winfield asked for clauses in their contracts that stated they couldnt be traded to boston im not painting all of boston as racists im saying the reputation the city has didnt come from nowhere